How to do a Rear Naked Choke | BJJ
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Rear Choke·Stay Safe Martial Arts
In this video, I discuss a few variations of the Rear Naked Choke (RNC) that I like to utilize both in training and comp…
Rear Choke
SubFamily裸絞(Hadaka-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Bare Strangle
Overview
The rear choke subfamily encompasses all no-gi strangles applied from behind the opponent without using collar or lapel grips. [1],[2] The rear naked choke (hadaka-jime) is the defining technique: from back control, the attacker slides one arm under the opponent's chin and across the front of the throat, places the choking hand on the opposite bicep, and uses the free hand behind the opponent's head to push it forward into a figure-four compression of both carotid arteries. [1],[2],[3] Variations include the one-arm rear naked choke (finishing with only the choking arm), the short choke (a compact version using less arm length), and the arm-triangle rear naked crossover (incorporating the opponent's trapped arm). [1] The rear naked choke is widely regarded as the highest-percentage submission in all of grappling and mixed martial arts due to the dominant positional control from which it is applied. [1],[4]
History & Origin
The rear naked choke has ancient origins across multiple martial traditions. In judo, hadaka-jime (裸絞め, 'naked strangle') was codified by the Kodokan as a fundamental shime-waza. [2],[3] The technique appears in historical European wrestling manuals and was practiced in pankration. [4] Mitsuyo Maeda brought judo strangles to Brazil, where the Gracie family refined the rear naked choke as the premier finishing technique from back control. [1] In MMA, the rear naked choke has consistently been the most common submission finish since the early UFC era, with fighters like Royce Gracie demonstrating its effectiveness against larger opponents. [1],[5]
Effectiveness
Rear chokes from back control are the highest-percentage finishing position in grappling, as the opponent cannot see the attacker's hands and has limited defensive options against the choking arm sliding across the front of the throat. [1]
Lineage
Rear chokes derive from judo's shimewaza and were central to the BJJ system developed by the Gracie family. [1]
Competition Record
Rear chokes are the most common submission category in UFC history. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
Position & Entry
From back control with seatbelt — Establish hooks or body triangle, slide choking arm under the chin, connect hands and squeeze
From turtle top (back take) — Break down the turtle, insert hooks, secure seatbelt grip, slide to back control and apply the choke
From standing back clinch — Secure rear body lock, drag opponent to the mat while inserting hooks, transition to choking position
Videos
Rear Naked Choke
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Rear Choke·Fat Snake Jiu Jitsu
Does your Rear Naked Choke suck? Do you lock your arms, squeeze with everything you’ve got, and still end up exhausted w…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Rear chokes are among the highest-percentage finishes; back control limits defensive options
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Rear chokes are submissions applied from back control — the attacker behind the opponent slides the choking arm under the chin and across the front of the throat to compress the carotid arteries (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2019)
✓Back control chokes are the highest-percentage submissions in grappling: the opponent cannot see the attacker and has limited defensive options
✓The rear naked choke, cross-collar choke from the back, and bow-and-arrow choke are the primary rear choke categories
✓Rear choke control requires hooks (legs wrapped around the opponent's torso) or a body triangle — these prevent the opponent from escaping before the choke is locked
✓The seatbelt grip (over-under control across the chest) is the standard control position before applying any rear choke
✓Rear chokes exploit the opponent's blind spot: all defensive actions must be performed without being able to see the attacker's hands
✓John Danaher's systematic approach to back attacks placed rear chokes at the pinnacle of the submission hierarchy — the back is the most dominant position
Common Mistakes
!Jumping to the choke without establishing back control — secure the hooks and seatbelt before attempting any rear choke
!Crossing the ankles in back control — crossed ankles are vulnerable to ankle locks; use hooks or body triangle instead
!Not controlling the opponent's defensive hands — the opponent's hands will fight the choking arm; use the free hand to strip their grip
!Squeezing the choke with the arms only — the choke uses the expansion of the chest (deep breath) combined with the squeeze of the arms
!Leaving space between your chest and the opponent's back — the body must be tight against the opponent's back; space allows them to turn
!Not adjusting when the opponent defends one side — if they protect one side of the neck, attack the other side or transition to a different choke
!Holding back control without attacking — the position is dominant, but failing to attack allows the opponent to mount a systematic escape
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Hadaka-jime
1BookKodokan Judo — Hadaka-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Hadaka-jime
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Hadaka-jime
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Hadaka-jime
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, long legs relative to torso
Favours
longer limbs for easier figure-four lock around head and arm
Key muscles
hip adductors, hamstrings, quadriceps
Sub-techniques
Arm Triangle Rear Naked Crossover
GenusThe arm triangle rear naked crossover combines elements of the rear naked choke and arm triangle by trapping the opponent's arm alongside their neck while the choking arm threads across the front of the throat from back control, then using the figure-four grip to compress the neck and trapped arm together. [1,2] Unlike the standard RNC where the arm is excluded, this variation deliberately includes the opponent's arm as a wedge against one carotid artery. [1] The crossover aspect refers to the choking arm threading across to the opposite side of the neck. [1,3]
1 species·3 techniquesExplore
One Arm Rear Naked Choke
GenusThe one-arm rear naked choke is a variation where the attacker finishes the strangle using only the choking arm without the standard figure-four reinforcement from the second arm. [1,2] The choking arm wraps around the opponent's neck under the chin with the bicep and forearm targeting the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck rather than the trachea, and the attacker creates compression on the opposite carotid using a structural anchor — pinning the opponent's shoulder, posting against their own shoulder or hip, or using a rotational scoop with the radius bone. [1] This variation is used when the second arm is occupied controlling the opponent's body or when the figure-four grip cannot be established due to defensive hand-fighting. [1,3]
1 species·3 techniquesExplore
Short Choke
GenusThe short choke is a compact rear strangle variation where the attacker uses a shallow grip — often just the forearm across the side of the neck targeting the carotid, with a palm-to-palm or fist grip — rather than the deep figure-four of the standard RNC. [1,2] The 'short' refers to the abbreviated grip configuration that requires less arm length threaded around the neck. [1] This makes it effective for attackers with shorter arms or when the opponent's chin defense prevents deep arm insertion. [1,3]
1 species·3 techniquesExplore
Standard Rear Naked Choke
GenusThe standard rear naked choke (hadaka-jime) is one of the most fundamental and highest-percentage rear strangles in grappling. [1,2] From back control, the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's neck under the chin, with the bicep and forearm targeting the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck rather than the trachea, places the choking hand on the opposite bicep, and secures the free hand behind the opponent's head; the finish comes from compressing both elbows inward (and, in some teachings, pressing the head forward into the choke), squeezing to compress both carotid arteries simultaneously. [1,2,3] The figure-four arm configuration creates a mechanical advantage that requires minimal strength to produce unconsciousness, typically within 5–10 seconds of a fully locked choke. [1,4] It is applicable in both gi and no-gi contexts. [1]
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place my hand when setting up a rear choke?
Avoid placing your hand on top of the head, as this is a primary defense point where your opponent can easily pull your arm down. Instead, use your knuckles against the back of the head, which allows you to position your hand farther back and makes the choke harder to defend.
How do I finish the rear naked choke without getting my arm broken?
Never wrap your arm completely around the neck; instead, pass your elbow over your first hand's wrist to create a secure triangle lock. Fat Snake Jiu Jitsu emphasizes that wrapping around exposes you to a two-on-one grip where your opponent can break your arm.
What should I do if my opponent defends my initial choke attempt?
If your opponent pulls your choking arm down, you lose control of that arm and must either get it back up immediately or switch hands. Stay Safe Martial Arts recommends not going into the choke with the mindset of finishing it right away, but instead applying steady pressure and letting your opponent hand-fight before capitalizing on openings.
How do I hide my second arm when setting up the choke?
Keep your fingers visible on your secondary hand as it comes around, then pass your elbow over your first hand's wrist to create a triangle. Fat Snake Jiu Jitsu emphasizes hiding your arm so your opponent doesn't see the second hand coming, allowing you to secure the position before they can defend it.
How does the Rear Choke work?
The rear choke subfamily encompasses all no-gi strangles applied from behind the opponent without using collar or lapel grips. The rear naked choke (hadaka-jime) is the defining technique: from back control, the attacker slides one arm under the opponent's chin and across the front of the throat, places the choking hand on the opposite bicep, and uses the free hand behind the opponent's head to push it forward into a figure-four compression of both carotid arteries.
Where does the Rear Choke come from?
The rear naked choke has ancient origins across multiple martial traditions. In judo, hadaka-jime (裸絞め, 'naked strangle') was codified by the Kodokan as a fundamental shime-waza.
Is the Rear Choke legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Rear Choke?
Danger rating 9/10. Rear chokes are among the highest-percentage finishes; back control limits defensive options
How do I set up the Rear Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Rear Choke?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Rear Choke?
Common variants: Short choke (palm-to-palm grip) (compact grip for tight spaces when the chin is partially …); Gable grip RNC (interlocked fingers behind the head for maximum squeeze p…); Body triangle RNC (adds body triangle control for stronger hip management du…); One-arm RNC (single arm under the chin when the second arm cannot reac…).
How effective is the Rear Choke in competition?
Rear chokes are the most common submission category in UFC history.
What are common mistakes when doing the Rear Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Jumping to the choke without establishing back control — secure the hooks and seatbelt before attempting any rear choke / Crossing the ankles in back control — crossed ankles are vulnerable to ankle locks; use hooks or body triangle instead / Not controlling the opponent's defensive hands — the opponent's hands will fight the choking arm; use the free hand t… / Squeezing the choke with the arms only — the choke uses the expansion of the chest (deep breath) combined with the sq….
What are other names for the Rear Choke?
The Rear Choke is also known as Hadaka-jime, Rear Naked Choke Family, RNC.